Job Title: Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Officer
Location: Akobo West
Reports to: Child Protection Coordinator
Contract Period: 7 months
Status: Non relocatable
CHILD SAFEGUARDING:
Level 3 - the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people.
Under the supervision of the Child Protection Coordinator with technical support from the MHPSS Technical Specialist, the officer will help the Child Protection officer in implementing project activities, particularly MHPSS component that will include building the capacity of the CP team and directly identify and register vulnerable, disable, separated, unaccompanied and missing children. He/she will also support community-based PSS initiatives like Child Friendly Spaces, Child rights clubs and youth centres direct services for individuals with mental health problems providing basic counselling and other interventions. The child protection Programme is currently focused on Comprehensive case management, MHPSS and community-based mechanisms for mobilization, awareness raising and engagements. The post holder will be working in the conflict and emergency affected communities to.
The incumbent of this position represents Save the Children values and principles in interactions with staff and external audiences. These values and principles include commitment to the mission of Save the Children international, team orientation, quality management and leadership development, introducing systems and procedures to strengthen staff motivation and productivity. In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.
Reports to: Child Protection Coordinator
Budget Responsibilities: N/A
SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (SCI Values in Practice)
Accountability:
• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved
Ambition:
• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically
Collaboration:
• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to
Creativity:
• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks
Integrity:
• Honest, encourages openness and transparency.
QUALIFICATIONS
• Minimum Diploma in social sciences, social work, or community development.
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY
• Identification and registration of psychosocial needs of beneficiaries based on the vulnerability criteria of the South Sudan PSS standard operating procedures (SOPs)
• Actively promote the availability of counseling services and carry out, individual or group counselling (psychological first aid (PFA) and psychosocial support (PSS), basic psychoeducational sessions to children, adolescents, and caregivers/ families (when needed), in order to alleviate their psychosocial difficulties.
• Refer clients to other specialists or other institutions for further assistance, when necessary, in line with the available local referral pathways, to ensure effective and efficient case management process.
• Participate in the creation updating and maintenance of any material needed for counseling activities.
• Keep files and statistics of daily activities and participate in team meetings to share experiences and discuss special cases with the supervisor respecting confidentiality, and or with MHPSS Technical Specialist
• Inform and discuss with line manager any difficulties and problems of any kind arising during the day-to-day activities.
• Take an active part in MHPSS related training topics for case workers, PSS facilitators, community mobilisers and community volunteers such as community-based child protection networks (CBCPN), Child Protection Help Desks (CPHD), leaders and other stakeholders
• Hold regular meetings with case workers, PSS facilitators and community mobilizers to discuss successes, challenges and way forward
• Representation in community meetings, MHPSS working groups, GBV subcluster, etc and act as focal point for MHPSS in Akobo
• Support caseworkers, PSS facilitators and community mobilizers in emergency response and comprehensive case management issues relevant to the role.
• Actively engage the case and caregiver(s) to participate in the case management process and share information appropriately in line with case management information management protocol.
• Ensure that files, registers and computer databases are used in an appropriate and correct manner and ensure case workers adhere to proper documentation and data protection protocols.
• Document best practice, case studies and learnings for reporting and evaluation purposes.
• Prepare and submit MHPSS reports regularly as indicated by the reporting schedule, and submit to the CP Officer
• Receive reports of cases from community-based child protection networks (CPCBN), Child Protection Help Desks (CPHD), children clubs etc. and give feedback as necessary.
• Plan and conduct awareness raising sessions on prevention and in response to concerns identified.
• Conduct monthly regular meetings with community groups and stakeholders to monitor progress and ensure smooth running of the project.
• Performs other functions related to Child Protection activities and initiatives that may be assigned by Child Protection Project officer.
EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
Essential
• Minimum Diploma in counselling, social sciences, social work, community development or any other MHPSS related training
• 2-3 years’ sectorial experience or relevant experience in social work, community development and working with children in Child Protection Programme preferable with humanitarian Organization.
• Very good written and spoken English, Local community languages around the area of operation is an added advantage for this role.
• Must have worked in Akobo for last 3 years in similar or other roles within Child protection organization(s).
• Excellent technical understanding of child protection and community-based approaches
• Computer knowledge
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Be able to prioritize tasks.
• Able to operate in extremely harsh living and working environment.
Desirable
• Knowledge of the area, socio-culture, and local language where the post is located as an added advantage.
• Work experience with children and families, especially knowledge of child rights and participation
• Experience in community facilitation and mobilization
• Previous NGO experience, including an understanding of the neutral status of an international NGO. Fluency in written and spoken English and other vernacular languages of South Sudan.
Child Safeguarding and Code of Conduct:
The Post holder will adhere to Save the Children’s Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct set out.
Save the Children’s work is based on deeply held values and principles, it is essential that our commitment to children’s rights and humanitarian principles is supported and demonstrated by all members of staff. Save the Children’s Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct set out the standards which all staff members must adhere to:
Additional job responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.
Equal Opportunities
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.
Child Safeguarding:
We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.
Safeguarding our Staff:
The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI anti-harassment policy
Humanitarian response
In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly